Lorin Noel was never a “java junkie” like most Americans. He’s never needed a caffeine boost to get him out of bed for the 19 years he’s worked at CSX railroad … that was until he had his first cup of homebrewed, fresh roasted coffee.
“I fell in love with it,” he said.
In 2019, a friend had just gotten a small home roaster for Christmas, according to Lorin. After falling head over heels, he bought one of his own.
“It was like an electric, one-pound roaster,” Lorin said. “It’s called a Behmor. I couldn’t really roast a lot…a little less than 340 grams at a time.”
Lorin called roasting a hobby for a few weeks, before giving coffee away to friends and family, who also couldn’t keep their hands off the product.
“Fresh coffee is what draws people in,” he said. “They’re used to drinking shitty or still, old coffee. Get fresh coffee.”
As demand increased, so did production.
“That’s when I thought, maybe I should upgrade and do something a little bit more with it?” Lorin said. “That’s when I kind of made a plunge and bought a three-pound commercial roaster, a fluid bed air roaster.”
Still nameless and brewing for locals, Lorin was slowly expanding to more neighborhoods and local businesses.
“[In 2023,] I stopped by the Corner Bistro in Fort Ashby, [WV]” Lorin said. “They had some new owners take over, and I stopped by and asked the lady, ‘Would you guys maybe be interested in selling our coffee?’ and if you’re on the restaurant side, ‘Maybe serve it either way?’”
Finally, Knobley Mountain Roasters was born, an homage to a hometown landmark beloved to Lorin and friends.
In 2025, Lorin upgraded again to a 10-pound roaster and launched the online store. He said it was tough to keep up with demand from locals and newfound customers.
“People that would text me and just say they wanted to coffee, I had to meet up and exchange money and things like that. …I wanted to do it easier,” Lorin said. “When I started the store, it helped a lot so anyone can order.”
Lorin now sells the Knobley Mountain Coffee at several regional retail locations and restaurants. Despite his expansion, he hopes to keep his production out of Wiley Ford, WV, his family’s hometown.
Lorin still works at the railroad, but said his dream is to one day open his own store or mobile truck in retirement.
Lorin said he had “no idea” his passion project would expand to such extremities, and he’s eternally grateful for the community’s support through his process.
“I had no idea how that was going to work out,” he said. “Starting the business, I’ve met so many people and made so many connections from it. From doing the wholesale to the stores, I didn’t realize who was involved with the local stuff as much as it is now.”
Lorin said he wouldn’t have it any other way, working with people he grew up with his entire life. He hopes that when people drink his coffee, they get the “experience” of growing up in Appalachia and sharing a cup with a neighbor.
“I knew that people drank coffee, but I just wanted them to experience the front foot coffee,” Lorin said. “I didn’t know how it was going to go, but the community and everything really supported it, and that’s awesome.”
Lorin offers local delivery within 15 miles of his home in Ridgeley, WV. To purchase the coffee online, visit his website or Facebook page.
